I’ve been touched by the outpouring of e-mails, letters and calls I’ve gotten in the past two weeks, and it has eased this bittersweet transition somewhat. It’s hard to leave with an unfinished agenda in so many areas—health care reform, the switch to alternative energy jobs-- and the prospect of an avalanche of negative political campaigns coming right at us in the wake of Citizens’ United, and other court decisions aimed at undoing the campaign finance laws we have on the books. But agendas are always unfinished and the process will continue with the players rearranged in different positions. I was amazed at how many other legislators are also not running again. Here’s a story from KRQE TV. KNME’s In Focus is airing its interview of me and Sen. Mark Boitano, who is also stepping down, Friday March 9. The interview will be posted on the KNME web site. A trend? Maybe…. There’s growing frustration with gridlock, and the burnout factor for many of us is undeniable-- what with no pay, constant criticism and strain on families. And there is little chance that will change anytime soon.
Some Good Articles about the RecentSession
Sometimes it takes a little time and reflection to process what really happened in the short Santa Fe legislative session. Here’s a great post mortum on the failure of my fireworks bill by Steve Terrell of the New Mexican at http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Fireworks-measure-fizzles--Industry-pressure-kills-bill-designed-to-prevent-wildfires, and a really funny one on something that didn’t get a lot of attention: the continued drive to slow the revolving door between legislators and lobbyists. Peter Moulson documented the unbelievable testimony from the Senate Rules Committee on why that would never be necessary. Check it out at http://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/democracy_for_new_mexico/2012/02/a-matter-of-public-trust-republicans-explain-that-lobbyists-have-absolutely-no-influence-in-our-legislature.html
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